AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE
Larger Population Needed
SYDNEY, January 27. The adequate defence of Australia after the war would mean that tens of millions of pounds would have to be spent annually on defence, said the Minister of the Army (Mr F. M. Forde). A larger population would be needed to bear this cost. Australia should aim at a population of 20,000,000 within 20 years. Mr Forde was speaking at an Australia Day celebration. In the first five years of war, added the Minister, Australia’s birthrate had risen by more than 25 per cent. Up to December, 1944, 975,000 men had enlisted in the Australian fighting forces. This meant that two men in every three between 18 and 40 years of age had served or were serving in. the Australian fighting forces. Fully 30 per cent, of Australia’s national income totalling £1,651,000,000 in five years had been spent on the war. Twelve public loans had raised £772,000,000 for war purposes.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23112, 29 January 1945, Page 5
Word Count
158AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23112, 29 January 1945, Page 5
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